Effect of natural attractant essential oil from Ocimum gratisimum from Timor Island against fruit flies

Abstract

Ocimum gratisimum, well-adapted to arid regions in East Nusa Tenggara, has essential oil that attracts fruit flies, pest important affecting crops like mango and jackfruit. This study aims to assess the impact of O. gratisimum essential oil on the diversity of fruit flies on these plants. The essential oil, source from leaves of O. gratisimum, was obtained from the Bioscience Laboratory of the University Nusa Cendana, East Nusa Tenggara, Kupang, Indonesia. It was applied to mango and jackfruit plants in Baumata Village, Taebenu District, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. For experiment, total of 0.2 µL of O. gratisimum essential oil was carefully placed on a cotton swab, which was subsequently positioned within traps constructed using 1.5-L mineral bottles. The results of this study indicated that the essential oil extracted from O. gratisimum leaves had the capacity to attract Bacrtocera umbrosa and Bactrocera dorsalis flies when applied on mango plants. In case of jackfruit plants, the traps successfully lured B. umbrosa, B. dorsalis, and Bactrocera musae. This attraction contains methyl eugenol in the oil derived from O. gratisimum.